Flushing apparatus for water-closets



July 1, 1930. Y l R. A. BRQQKS 11,768,562

FLUSHING'APPARATU'S FOR WATER CLO'SETS i Fned sept. 14, 1925 1. f f' -v- ,v "l

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' leading purpose.

Patented July l, 1930 ROBERT-A. BROOKS, O CHICAGO, ILLINOIS LUSHING APPARATUS .FOR WATER-CLOSETS Application iled September 14, 1925. Serial No. 56,296. i

My invention relates to water closet flushing apparatus of the gravity type comprising a tank adapted to contain a body of Water for flushing purposes, which is supplied from a service pipe connected with the city water supply, or fromlany other suitable source of supply lof water under pressure. Such tanks are generally equipped with a iioat controlled valve which is automatically closed to shut off the admission of water to the tankwhen it has been filled, and is automatically opened to admit water to thetank whenever the flushing apparatus is operated, and one of the ob]ects of my present invention is to provide improve float controlled valve mechanism for that I accomplish this and other objects as illustrated in the drawings and as hereinafter described. What I regard as new is set forth in the claims. l

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my improvements applied to a {lushing apparatus of the same general nature as that shown and described in my pending application, Serial No. 31,848, filed March 21, 1925"in which the flushing operation is Apromoted by the discharge into from the flush water tank of a ]et o water under service pressure,

Fig. 1 is a side view of the flush water tank, one side being broken away tof show the interior thereof, and some parts of the apparatus being in section;

Fig. 2 is a Vertical sectional view showing the valve mechanism which controls the admission of water to the tank,

usual `tank for .ing purposes, the

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the valve which forms a part of said valve mechanism; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cage which also forms a part of said valve mechanism; an

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the seat for the valve shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings,.6 indicates the holding the water for 'flushwhich tank may be either o or of the low-type. In the bot.-

is a tubular fitting 7, the lowerl whichv is screw-threaded to u igh. ton thereof end portion' of d is flared slightly to form a seat 13 the outlet pipe f l alined lugs 17 which are perforated for `permitting it to 'the lower end of which is provi receive a collar 8 by means of which an outlet 9 is secured to he lower end of said {itting, as shown in Figfl. A nut `10 is screwed on the lower end of the'tting 7 below the bottoni of the tank for clamping the fitting in place, and a gasket 11 is interposed between an' annular shoulder 12 carried b the fitting and the upper surface of t e bottom of the tank to prevent leakage around the fitting. By means of the nut 10 the shoulder 12 may be clamped tightly down upon thefgasket 11 in the usual way. The upper end of the tting 7 opens into the tank near the bottom thereoff and or a float valve 14 which when on its seat serves to prevent the escape of water from the tank. Anl overflow ipe 15 is connected at its lower end with t e upperl portion of the fitting 7 below the seat 13, and extends upward in the tank to a point some distance above `the normalwater level therein. The purpose of this pipe is to refill the bowl after it has been flushed, in the manner well understood by those familiar with the art. lSaid pipe also serves the purpose of supporting a bracket 16 provided with verticalt e a rod 18, the lower end of which is connected with the ioat valve 14. This rod serves as a means of lifting said valve off of its seat to permit the escape of waterfrom the tank for flushing urposes, and itis guided by the lugs 17 w ich serve to hold it in a vertical position while move up and down freely. The upper' end of said rod is preferably provided with a head 19 in thek form of a loop, as shown in Fig. 1, for convenience in connecting it with an operating rod 20, ded with an eye 21 that encircles the rod 18 between the upper lug 17 andthe head 19, while its upper end is connected with a lever 22 arranged to swing vertically. As shown in said figure, the lever 22 is fulcrumed at one f end upon a` pivot 23 and is arranged to be rocked in a vertical plane by means o .a manually operated leve`r\24 arranged outside of the tank and mounteclto rock about 109 an axis parallel with the pivot 23. The lever 24 is provided with a cross-head 25 having arms 26, 27 which extend under the lever 22, so` that by rocking the lever 24 in either direction the lever 22 may be actuated to lift its free end, which is that to which the rod 20 is connected. Normally the lever 22 rests on the arms 26, 27, v as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. From the foregoing description it will be understood that when the lever 22 is actuated, the rod 20 will be moved upward, thereby lifting the rod 18 and with it the float valve 14. Normally said valve is held seated by the pressure of the water in the tank, but as soon as it is lifted dif of its seat its buoyanc will cause it to rise until it contacts wit the lower lug 17. In` fiushing the closet the lever 24 is usually swung quickly in one direction or the other and then released, so that after being actuated' the lever 22 immediately drops to its normal position, but as the rod 18 is free to move upward, under the buoyancy of the float valve 14, independently of the actuating rod 20, this does not interfere with the proper operation of said valve.

Water is supplied to the tank 6 from the source of supply through a nipple 28, or other suitable connection, which is attached to the lower end of an inlet pipe 29 mounted in the tank and extending through the bottom thereof. Preferably said inlet pipe is secured by nuts 30, 31 screwed upon said pipe at opposite sidesof the tank bottom, as shown in Fig. 1. The upper end of the pipe 29 carries the valve mechanism by which the admission of water to the tank is controlled. Such valve mechanism is best shown in Fig.

2, from an inspection ofwhich it will be4 seen that it comprises a body portion 32 having a valve chamber 33. Below said body portion is a tubular extension 34, preferably internally threaded to screw upon the upper end of the inlet pipe 29, and between said extension and the chamber 33 is an annular ledge 35 which forms the bottom of a recess ada ted to receive an annular valve seat 36 whlch fits closely therein. This valve seat ispreferably made of semi-pliable rubber, but it may be of any other suitable material, such as graphite composition. It is provided with a 'reenforcing metal ring 37 imbedded therein, which ring is of sufficient strength to withstand hi h pressure. This ring lends rigidity to t e ring 36 without'interfering with its proper functioning as a seat for,the valve hereinafter described. The ring 36 is provided with a central passage 38 through which water from the inlet pipe 29 enters the chamber 33.

In order to` hold the ring 36 firmly in position and prevent it from being displaced by the pressure of the inflowing water, a

cage 39 is mounted upon it, said cage `being .kets of di best' 4. The upper ring-40 of the i ring 41 rests on the marginal portion of the ring 36, as shown in Fig. 2; consequently by screwing the cap 44 down upon the cage 39, the seat 36 will be held firmly in position.

The cap 44 is provided with an annular flange 45 at its upper side forming a pocket 46 which communicates centrally with the valve chamber 33 through a passage 47, as shown in Fig. 2. This passage is for the reception of the stem 48 of a valve 49 the lower face of which is conical asl shown at 50 in Figs. 2 and 3. Said valve is adapted to seat over the passage 38 in the ring 36, the inner lupper margin of said ring being enga ed by the conical face 50 of said valve and orming a seat therefor. The stem 48 is adapted to slide freely in the passage 47, and, as' shown in Fig. 2, itfis hollow, being open at its upper end to receive a rod 5l that depends centrally from a disc 52 which rests on the upper end of the valve stem 48. The disc 52 is of slightly less diameter than the diameter of the pocket` 46, so that it freely moves vertically therein as the valve 49 rises or` falls. The function of the disc 52 can be better explained in con' nection with the description of the operation of the apparatus.

Extending laterally from the body portion 32 is an outlet connection 53 with which connects a discharge pipe 54 leading to a depending sleeve 55 disposed near the overflow pipe 1.5, as best shown in Fig. l. Said `sleeve is open at both ends, its lower end being connected telescopically with a jet ipe 56 the lower end of which is in the orm of a nozzle 57 arranged to direct thel discharge from said pipe into the upper end of the outlet fitting 7. Said nozzle is so positioned that when the float valve 14 .is on or adjacent to its seat, the water discharged through said nozzle will impinge on the inclined upper surface of said float valve, whichas shown in Fig. 1 is conical in form. By this arangement, as will be more fully hereinafter explained, the water discharged through said nozzle aids in seating said ioat valve. The pipe 56 is adjustably secured in the sleeve 55 by means of a set screw 58, so that the nozzle 57 may be adjusted vertically to position it properly when it is used in conenction with fittings of different makes, or with gaskets 11 of different thicknesses. The fittings 7 as made by different manufacturers are not always of precisely the same dimensions, and gaserent thicknesses are. frequently is supported at both sides.

- lug 68 positioned so ation of the apparatus full, the parts will used, so that to secure the best results it is necessary to provide means for vertically adjusting the pipe 56 so that the water discharged from the nozzle 57 will be directed properly into the outlet in the tank. Sai nozzle may also be adjusted ylaterally by partly rotating the pipe 56.

The upper end of the sleeve has connected with it a refill pipe 59 which leads to the open upper end of the overflow pipe 15, Vas shown in Fig. 1. Thus the water admitted through the valve mechanism above described may pass under service pressure to the jet pipe 56 and also to they pipe 59.

The position of the valve 49 is controlled by means of a fioat 60 which floats on the surface of the water in the tank in the usual way and is connected by a rod 61 with a lever 62 fulcrumed to swing vertically about a pivot 63. Said pivot is mdunted between the arms of a yoke 64 which risesfrom the extension 53, so that the lever 62` is provided with a double fulcrum by which it It is therefore with water at high well adapted for use pressure. Aty the opposite side of the pivot 63 from the float 60 said lever is provided with an arm 65 which extends over the pocket 46 and is threaded to receive an adjustable .screw 66, thelower end of which bears on the upper face of the disc 52.) A lock nut 67 serves to hold said screw in its different positions of adjustment. The lever 62 is also provided with a depending that when the float 60 drops to a predetermined extent said lug strikes the fiange 45 and prevents the float from descending farther. By this means when the water is discharged from the tank in the fiushing operation, the float 60 does not descend far enough to interfere with the proper operation of the float'valve 14.

From the foregoing description the operwill be readily underbe briefly explained as i. e., when the tank is be in the position shown 1n Fig. l, at which timj the-float 60 will be inits uppermost position and the Valve 49 will be down on its seat, being held in stood, but it may follows: Normally,

.such position by the lever 62, the movement of which is controlled by the float. When the lever 24 is actuated to flush the closet, the float valve 14 is lifted from its seat on the fitting 7, therebympermitting the water in the tank to'pass out through said fitting and the discharge pipe 9, the float v alve rising by its buoyancy to the upper limit of its movement. As soon as the water begins to flow out of the tank, the float 60 drops, thereby rocking the lever 62 in a clockwise direction' as viewed in Fig. 2,

which lifts the screw 66 and permits the..

valve 49 to rise under the pressure of the water supply .delivered through pipe' 29.

d 48 will strike the under The water then flows into the chamber 33 and from it through pipe 54, to pipe 56 and pipe 59. Any water through passage .47 around the valve stem side of the disc 52, which will arrest its iiow and prevent splashing, so that such water will flow over` the uppermargin of the flange 45 into the tank. The water admitted to pipe 56 is discharged through nozzle 57 into the upper end of the fitting 7, which is then exposed because ofthe rise of the float lvalve 14, and promotes the fiushing operation as scribed in my pending application above referred to. The jet discharge from the nozzle 57 also aids in seating the fioat valve v14 after the tank has been practically emptied, because as the water level in the tank lowers,'said valve gradually descends, until when it approaches the upper end of the fitting 7, the water discharged from said nozzle strikes the upper inclined surface of the valve and helps to move it down on its seat in the upper end of the fitting. It will be understood that although the open end of the lnozzle 57 always remains submerged, the water discharged from it nevertheless acts with' considerable force on the valve, since it is delivered under service pressure. The quick seating of the float valve 14 thus accomplished makes the fiushing operation comparatively noiseless.

The dropping o the discharge of the water from the tank 6 rocks the lever 62 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, thereby moving the screw 66 upward, which releases the valve 49 and permits it to rise under the pressure of the water supply. The seat ring 36 is nevertheless held dewn by the cap .44 acting through the cage 39. The upwardmovement of the valve 49 admits water to theV chamber 33, whence it passes through the pipe 54: to pipes 56 and 59. The water that passes into the pipe 56 during the period of discharge of fiushing water, is injected into the upper lend of the outlet fitting flushing operation, but after the oat valve 14 has been seated, as above described, the water delivered by the pipe 56 remains in the tank and rells it. The water passing through pipe 59 refills the bowl. As the water rises in the tank, the lever 62 is rocked in the opposite direction, thereby moving the valve" 49 down toward its seat until finallyv saidl valve is seated, shutting off the incoming water. By adjusting the screw 66 the normal position' of the float 60 may be varied to provide for maintaining the water in the tank at different levels.

-It will be observed that by my has heretofore customarily vbeen prevent the incoming water from splashing f the float 60 incident to I 7 -to promote 'the y l improvedv construction I avoid the necessity of providing the valve with a hydraulic washer, 'asfused to Y that may pass upward tral position,

sure by shifting the pivot out of the tank, and therefore the valve 49 moves freely under comparatively low pressure, which makes itsproper operation more certain. Also by my improved construction I avoid providing the valve body with a fixed seat for the valve, and make the seat ring 86 easily accessible so that it may readily be removed for repair or replacement without disturbing any of the other parts of the valve mechanism. The valve body with the attached parts including vthe supply pipe 29, the pipe 54, the sleeve and also the yoke 64, are all preferably permanently connected together in ,the form of a single unit, so that when put in place they cannot get out of order and require no attention. The pipe 56 is adjustably connected with the sleeve 55 for the reason hereinbefore given, but after it has once been set with relation to the outlet of the tank in which it is mountcd, it requiresno further adjustment. While ordinarily a single jet pipe 56 is all that is necessary, if desired several of such pipes may be provided and connected to be supplied from the pipe 54.

By making the seat ring 36 in the form of a perforated disc having the reenforcing ring 37 imbedded therein., it retains its form properly under high pressure, and does not bulge as would be apt to be the case if separate washers with a reenforcing ring be tween them were used. Where the apparatus is intended to operate at high pressure, it is necessary that the valve seat be suficiently rigid to hold its form, as otherwise the valve would not seat properly. By making the lower end of the valve 49 conical as shown at 50 in the drawings, it serves as it opens to distribute the incoming water in lan equal and uniform body through the seat opening, which centralizes the force and keeps the valve with its stem in a cenwhich has the e'ect of stopping vibration and noise when the valve is closing. By means of the adjusting screw 66, the extent to which the valve 49 may open may be regulated to determine the flow of water through the inlet under various ressures The length of the power arm o 'the lever comprising the rod 61 and lever 62 may be varied to adapt the apparatus `for use either with high or low pres- 63' to one or the other of the holes provided in the lever and in the an additional hole is provided at the left .of the hole in which the pivot 63 is mounted.

By placing the pivot 'in such eXtra hole, the power arm of the lever is lengthened, thereby better iitting it for use with higher pressures.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by'Letters Patent, is-

l. In a flushing apparatus, the combination with a Hush water tank, of a water supyoke 64. In the illustration of Fig. 2,.

sion of water to said valve chamber, and

float actuated means for controlling the position of said valve.

2. In a flushing apparatus, the combination with a liush water tank, of a water supply pipe", and valve mechanism associated with said pipe for controlling the admlssion ofwater to the tank, comprising a body portion having a valve chamber, an inlet opening at one side ber, a screw-threaded cap mounted on said body portion at the side opposite said opening, said cap havinga passage therethrough, a valve having a stem movable longitudinally in said passage, an annular valve seat` of compressible material for said valve mounted around said opening, and a cage cooperating with said cap to hold said seat 1n position, said cap being rotatable independently of said cage for forcing said cage and valve seat down together nonrotatively.

3. In a flushing apparatus, the combination with a flush water tank, of a water supply pipe, and valve mechanism associated with said pipe for controlling the admission of water to the tank, comprising a body portion having a valve chamber, an opening at one side o said chamber for admitting water thereto, a removable cap at the opposite side of said chamber, said cap having a passage therethrough, a valve having a stem movable longitudinally in said passage, means having telescopic connection with the outer end of said steml for deflecting water passing through said passage,

and a float actuated lever adapted to impart motion to said valve through said water deflecting means.

4. In a flushing apparatus, the combination. with a flushv water tank, of a water supply pipe, and valve mechanism associated with said pipe for controlling the admission of water to the tank, comprising a body portion having a valve chamber, an opening at one side of said chamber for admitting water thereto, a removable cap at the opposite side of said chamber, said cap having a passage therethrough, a valve hav- 'ing a stem movable longitudinally in said "passage, means disposed over the outer end of said passage for delecting water passing therethrough, and an annular flange carof said cham-- 'ried by the cap and extending aroundsaid defiecting means. l

5. In a flushing apparatus, tion with a lush water tank, of a water supply pipe, and valve mechanism associated with said pipe Vfor controllingthe admission of water to the tank, comprising abody portion having a valve chamber, an opening at one side of said chamber for admitting water thereto, a valve seataround said opening, a removable cage 'for holding said 'seat in place, a valve cooperating` withsaid seat and having a stem extending up through said cage and out of said valve chamber at 'the opposite side thereof from said opening, water deflecting means telescopically carried by said stem,.and a float 'actuated lever having means engaging the water de'lecting means for moving said valve to its closed position when the float is raised by the tilling of the tank.

, 'of said water' deiiecting member v body portion 6. In a flushing apparatus, the combina# tion with a flush water tank, of a water supply pipe, and valve mechanismassociated with said pipe Afor controlling the admission of water to the tank, comprising a body portion having a valve chamber, an opening at one side of said chamber `for admitting water thereto, a valve seat aroun said opening, a valve. cooperating with said seat and having a stem extending out of said vvalve chamberat the opposite side thereof from said opening, a.water vdeecting inember carried by and movable with respect to said stem and a loat actuated lever having an adjustable screw engaging the outer end for moving closed position when the the filling of the tank.

said valve to its float is Iraised by 7. In a llushing apparatus, the combination with a Hush water tank, of a water supply pipe, and valve mechanism. associated with said admission of water to the tank, comprlsing a body portion having a valve chamber, an inlet opening therefor, a valve movable toward and from said opening to control the admission of water to said valve chamber, a yoke supported by saidbody portion, a float actuated lever for-moving said valve to its operative position, and pivot means pivotally supporting said lever between the arms of said yoke Vand arranged to occupy l diiferent positions relative to' said lever and yoke to change the effective lengths of the arms of said lever said lever having an adjustable screw adapted to engage said valve to actuate the same. y

8. In a flushingapparatus, the combina tiourwith aJ flush waten tank, of a water supply pipe, and valve mechanism associated with said pipe for controlling the admission-of water to the tank'comprising a having a vertically extending valve chamber, an inlet opening at the botthe combina-4 Atop of said cage,

d r,mitting water pipe for controlling the tom of said chamber, an outlet opening at one side thereof, an annular recess in the bottom of said valve chamber in substantial alinement with said inlet opening, any annular valve seat of graphite composition engaging in said recess, a cage bearing on the lupper side of said valve seat for holding the same pressed against the bottom of said recess, a cap separate from said cage screwing into a threaded opening rin the upper end of said valve chamber, and bearing on said valve seat and cage being removable through said threaded opening, a valve having a conical metallic face adapted to engage the inner upper margin of said valve seat, said valve comprising a stem extending upwardly through said cap, and a float actuated lever pivotally supported on said body portion and arranged to transmit operating motion to said valve stem.

l 9. In a iiushing apparatus, the combination with a flush water tank, of a water supply pipe, and valve mechanism associated with said pipe for controlling the a valve chamber, an

a body portion having said chamber for adopening at one side of thereto, the opposite side of said chamber, an annular valve seat over lsaid opening, a valve cooperatingwith said valve seat and comprising a' hollow valve stem extending through an-opening in said cap, a water deflecting member having a rod projecting therefrom and loosely fitting within said hollow valve stem, and a oat actuated lever transmitting valveclosing motion to ,said water detlecting member.

10. A valve mechanism comprising a body portion having an linlet opening and a passage therein, a valve having a stem movable in said passage, means .having telescopic connectionwith the outer lend of said stem' for deilecting leakage'passingthrough said passage around said valve stem, and means for imparting motion to said valve through said deflecting means.

ROBERT A. BROOKS.

a removable cap atl 

